Nottingham Forest are ready to rival Sunderland for midfielder Grant Leadbitter, according to The Yorkshire Post.

Middlesbrough midfielder Leadbitter is attracting interest this summer with Tony Pulis ready to let him leave.

Reports yesterday emerged that Leadbitter was a summer transfer target for Sunderland, with Boro willing to let him go for a minimal fee.

The Black Cats wanted to add the 32-year-old's experience to their ranks and bring him back to the club where he started his career.

Leadbitter played 123 games for Sunderland's first-team after graduating through the academy in the early 2000s.

He then moved to Boro in 2012 after a three-year stay at Ipswich Town and he has played well over 200 games in six years for the Teeside club.

The former England under-21 international is an experienced man in central midfield at Championship level and this is something that Aitor Karanka has been hoping to add to his squad at Nottingham Forest.

The Reds have been linked with Dean Marney as they look for replacements for loan man Jack Colback and Leadbitter is now on their radar.

The Verdict

Leadbitter would be a decent squad option for Karanka at Forest but a star in midfield for Ross at Sunderland.

Nottingham Forest would be able to offer the veteran midfielder Championship football but the lure of returning to his first club might be too tempting for Leadbitter to resist.

In League One, he is sure to stand out as one of the best midfielders in the division and his set-pieces will be problematic for third tier defences.

Sunderland and Forest fans - Would you like Leadbitter? Let us know below...